April 25, 2019

Psalm 24:1–2 (NLT) — 1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. 2 For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths.

There may have been a time in America where the majority of the people believed the above statement. Sadly that time has passed. I know this in part because hardly anyone is asking the next question found in verse 3.

Psalm 24:3 (NLT) — 3 Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?

There may have been a day when people in America asked this question. In fact that question may have brought about the Great Awakening in the 1700’s. The Age of Reason was making its way through the 13 colonies. The emphasis was on science and logic and downplaying religion. Religion was becoming more formal and less personal which led to low church attendance. Sound familiar?

The charge to return to God was led by Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, David Brainerd, Samuel Davies and others. It was at that time that Edwards preached his famous sermon, Sinners in the hands of an Angry God. People were holding on to their pews for fear of being swept in hell. Even Benjamin Franklin, religious skeptic was captivated by Whitefield’s sermons and the two became friends.

Some of the basic themes of this Great Awakening were:

All people are born sinners

Sin without salvation will send a person to hell

All people can be saved if they confess their sins to God, seek forgiveness and accept God’s grace

All people can have a direct and emotional connection with God

Religion shouldn’t be formal and institutionalized, but rather casual and personal

The revival also led to the establishment of several renowned educational institutions, including Princeton, Rutgers, Brown and Dartmouth universities. Most of these new universities included the training of pastors to preach the gospel. O how these universities have changed. 🙁

We need to pray for America that people would again ask, “Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? and Who may stand in His holy place?; Instead of the popular, “Did you have fun? or Are you happy?”

And then finish the prayer with the end of this Psalm:

Psalm 24:7–10 (NLT) — 7 Open up, America! Open up, America, and let the King of glory enter. 8 Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty; the Lord, invincible in battle. 9 Open up, America! Open up, America, and let the King of glory enter. 10 Who is the King of glory? The Lord of Heaven’s Armies— he is the King of glory.

Be Inspired Hilltop!

P.S. some of the above information on the Great Awakening I got from Wikipedia and History.org.